Dal comes back to defeat Laval 3-1

(Halifax, N.S.) – A well-rounded team effort helped the Dalhousie Tigers (6-2) come back from one set down on Friday night to defeat the Laval Rouge et Or (6-2) 3-1 (18-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-17) in the second AUS-RSEQ Interlock event of the season at the Dalplex.

Five different players for the Tigers had at least 10 points in the win, with six contributing a minimum of two assisted blocks.

The first set was a back-and-forth battle with Laval taking control at the midway point, as they were able to push off eight straight points to take a commanding 20-10 lead and eventual set win.

Dalhousie fought back but were unable to keep pace with outside hitter Bruno Lortie (Cumberland, ON) and middle blocker Hugo Leger (Blainville, QC), who finished the set with four and three kills, respectively.

The momentum of the game shifted in the second set thanks to the serving abilities of Dalhousie outsider hitter Jeffrey Walton (Sudbury, ON). With the Tigers up 5-4, Walton was able to push off a number of well-placed serves, including four aces as the hosts took an 11-4 lead and didn't look back.

Dalhousie kept the momentum going in both the third and fourth sets, trailing by no more than two points at any period of time. Their aggressiveness at the net –  thanks in large part to middle blockers Isaac Longard (Mahone Bay, NS) and Matthew Woods (Halifax, NS –  was a key factor.

Longard recorded one solo block and three assisted blocks in the third set, while Woods had three solo blocks in the fourth set to cap off the 3-1 Dalhousie win.

Laval's Vicente-Ignacio Parraguirre Villalobos (Santiago de Chile, CL) led all players with 14 kills and 14.5 points, while Walton was named game MVP, registering 14 points for the Tigers.

Both teams are back in action tomorrow at the interlock event. Laval will take on Memorial at 11:00 a.m., while Dalhousie will face Montreal at 1:00 p.m.